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 Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Royals Eye ALCS Sweep Wednesday

October 15, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals News Release


SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Despite inclement weather moving Game 3 of the American League Championship Series from Monday to Tuesday, the Kansas City Royals and 13 former Northwest Arkansas Naturals would not allow the schedule change to reign on their success. After a sacrifice fly by Billy Butler scored 2009-2010 Natural Jarrod Dyson in the bottom of the sixth to give Kansas City a 2-1 lead, it was much of the same from the back end of the Royals bullpen leading to 2009 Natural Greg Holland picking up his fifth save of the 2014 postseason.

After back-to-back doubles in the top of the second scored Baltimore Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce to give the Orioles an early 1-0 lead, that would be all the offense they could manage. In a truly dominant pitching performance by the Royals as a whole, starter Jeremy Guthrie, formerly with Baltimore from 2007-2011, would allowed only three hits all game. Kansas City would not allow another hit after Nick Markakis led off the third with a single, and would not allow another base runner after a two out walk to Ryan Flaherty in the top of the fourth. After former Texas Leaguer Nick Hundley struck out to end the top of the fourth, 2009 Natural Alex Gordon knotted the game at 1-1 on an RBI groundout in the bottom half of the inning, and then Dyson would score the winning run in the sixth.

The combination of Guthrie, Jason Frasor, 2011 Natural Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Holland retired the final 16 Oriole batters in order, en route to the Game 3 victory, and commanding 3-0 Championship Series lead.

The Royals closer has pitched in all seven games this postseason, and has closed out six of the seven while notching five saves and allowing only three hits to go along with nine strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA. The only game Holland did not close out came in the 12 inning Wild Card Game against the Oakland Athletics. Alongside Holland, the latter stages of games have become routine for Kansas City, as it was throughout most of the regular season. Davis has also pitched in all seven postseason games, while Herrera has appeared in six of the seven games. The trio of Herrera-Davis-Holland has closed out the Royals' last four straight victories, including four no-hit innings from Herrera and Davis in Game 1 of the ALCS. Herrera has not allowed a run since the Wild Card Game, including five shutout innings.

As the saying goes, "Pitching wins Championships," and the Royals have done just that. In total, through the Royals first seven postseason victories, the bullpen has thrown 31.1 innings while going 6-0 with a 2.01 ERA, 34 strikeouts, 12 walks and .182 batting average against. In addition to the bullpen, however, the Royals lineup has certainly produced as well.

2010 Natural Mike Moustakas is tied with former Springfield Cardinal Matt Carpenter for the Major League lead with four postseason home runs, while Gordon leads MLB with nine postseason runs batted in. Those two aside, perhaps the most attention will fall on 2012 Natural Lorenzo Cain's memorable three game stretch thus far in the ALCS. Cain is 8-12 with 5 runs scored in the Championship Series, and he has recorded a hit in six of the seven postseason games.

Kansas City is 7-0 in the 2014 postseason, and has now won ten straight play-off games dating back to the clubs final three World Series wins over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985. The current stretch is the longest in the Majors to date. The Royals send veteran LHP Jason Vargas to the hill as they look to make it 11 in a row and eye a second straight sweep this postseason. This marks Vargas' first start in the American League Championship Series and second start this postseason. Vargas last faced the Orioles in 2013 when he went 1-1 with a 1.72 ERA across two starts including one complete game.

He will oppose Orioles' RHP Miguel Gonzalez, making his first appearance in the 2014 postseason. Gonzalez has made one previous start in the postseason dating back to 2012 when he went seven innings while allowing just one earned run. Formerly a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Gonzalez pitched in the Texas League in 2006 and 2007 as a member of the Arkansas Travelers. The first pitch of Game 4 of the American League Championship Series is set for 3:07pm CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

Gonzalez finished 0-1 against the Royals during the regular season in one start with a 4.50 ERA, allowing just four runs, three earned, in six innings pitched.

Follow all the former Naturals playing for Kansas City this post-season on Twitter @nwanaturals using the hashtag #TheNatural13 for all the up-to-date highlights, statistics and information.

Season 8 of Naturals baseball will begin with a six-game road trip to Midland and Frisco before returning to Arvest Ballpark for their home opener on Thursday, April 16 against the Midland RockHounds (Double-A Affiliate of the Oakland Athletics).

The Season 8 promotional schedule, game times and other details on discounted ticket plans as well as group information will be made available throughout the off-season. For any questions regarding our 2015 season, please give us a call at (479) 927-4900.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Ark. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.


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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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